Common Mojarra

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7

Inhabits shallow waters, being especially abundant over mud bottoms in mangrove-lined lagoons or creeks; larger individuals may also occur on vegetated sand grounds in marine areas. Enters fresh water in limestone regions (Ref. 7251). May occur in aggregations (Ref. 3722). Probably feeds on small benthic invertebrates (Ref. 3722). Foraged over the bottom by swimming at about 3-4 cm above the bottom and stopped at a selected site. It tilts its body by about 45° and protrude its mouth and buried it into the sand. Sediment are ejected through its mouth and gill openings producing a scattered sandy cloud of thin sediment (Ref. 40104). See Ref. 42268.

Inhabits shallow waters, being especially abundant over mud bottoms in mangrove-lined lagoons or creeks; larger individuals may also occur on vegetated sand grounds in marine areas. Enters fresh water in limestone regions (Ref. 7251). May occur in aggregations (Ref. 3722). Probably feeds on small benthic invertebrates (Ref. 3722). Marketed fresh but not highly esteemed (Ref. 3722).

fisheries: minor commercial; bait: usually; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and Bermuda to Argentina; including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea

benthic